Takoradi: India has entered into an agreement with Ghana to collaborate in the production of herbal medicines, as announced by Mr. Manish Gupta, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana. India is already working with the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ghana’s Volta Region and India’s Ayush Institute toward achieving this goal. Efforts are also being made to assist Ghana in processing tomatoes into pastes to decrease import costs, with an eye on investing in vital spices identified in the Volta Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Gupta emphasized the longstanding relationship between India and Ghana, noting that some Indian nationals have been in Ghana for four to five generations, becoming more Ghanaian-Indian than Indian-Ghanaian. He highlighted the cooperation between the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Ghana Standards Authority to harmonize standards, aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Areas initiative.
Mr. Gupta referred to the recent visit by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which further strengthened Ghana-India relations across several sectors, including political, diplomatic, economic, agricultural, and cultural fields. He expressed satisfaction with the growing relationship between the two countries, despite the geographic distance.
In agriculture, discussions are underway for Indian investments aimed at enhancing collaboration in research and capacity building. Mr. Gupta also acknowledged Ghana’s ambitions to become a regional hub for vaccines and health, with ongoing substantive discussions in capacity building and research.
The High Commissioner mentioned cooperation in defense and security sectors, particularly in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and border surveillance, acknowledging the security challenges from Ghana’s northern territories and the Sahel region. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding on cultural exchange programs has been announced to boost culture and tourism, with hopes for a permanent joint commission in the future.
Mr. Gupta also revealed India’s intentions to double its involvement in Ghana’s gold trade over the next five years, reflecting India’s role as a key player in the sector.